Dundee have done an “incredible bit of business” by signing a Rio Ferdinand-type centre-back in Steven Caulker, according to one of his former team-mates.
Ex-Dundee United man Calum Butcher came through the ranks with Caulker at Tottenham Hotspur.
And the 26-year-old, who went on to win an England cap and play for Great Britain at the Olympics, was cut from the same cloth as Manchester United great Ferdinand, said Butcher.
Caulker’s career has gone off the rails in recent years, with alcohol, gambling and depression issues claiming more headlines than his football.
But Butcher believes there is no doubting his old team-mate’s pedigree.
And he expects the ex-Liverpool, Cardiff City and Southampton defender, who has signed an 18-month deal at Dens, to be a star of the Scottish game.
“The biggest compliment I can pay him is by saying he’s every inch like Rio Ferdinand,” said Butcher.
“He’s got the same style and the way he brings the ball out of defence. That’s who he reminds me of 100 per cent.
“I came through the youth ranks with Steven at White Hart Lane so know as well as anyone how talented he really is.
“Back then, he was just scary with all the ability he had. There was nobody like him at Spurs at that time.He was a dream to play alongside. I learned more from him than any other player in my career.
“This is a massive signing for Dundee. Their supporters have every right to be excited because he can do amazing things for that club.
“He’s a great team-mate and, believe me, he will have a major voice in the Dens Park dressing-room.
“The big fella is a born leader. Others will follow him on the park because that’s just the overwhelming kind of presence he has every time he goes out onto the pitch.
“Despite the public perception, there’s not a bad bone in his body.
“If a team-mate or anyone on his side needs help, he’ll be the first on the scene. He will want the best for his new club week-in-week-out.”
Butcher added: “Ok, he’s gone off the rails a bit in recent years and had a few issues off the field.
“I think he’s actually won respect overall for being brave by speaking about different things.
“But there’s no doubting for a second his ability and that’s why Dundee have gone in there and brought him up to Scotland.
“He won’t take too long to make his mark. Put it this way, there will be strikers out there who’ll know they’ll have been in a game.
“Caulks is quite scary to be honest. There’s no hanging back in tackles which I witnessed myself even during training sessions.
“To have played in the Premiership with Liverpool and Southampton, he’s going to bring so much to the game in Scotland. It’s an incredible bit of business.”
Caulker has been a free agent since being released by QPR in December and hasn’t played a competitive game since September.
He said: “It’s been a strange six weeks for me. I’ve been training at Luton, training on my own.
“The phone call came in just the other day from Neil (McCann) offering the chance to come up here and get away from everything back home and get my head down and focus on playing football.
“I met with him last night and he blew me away with his honesty. He’s a real genuine man. He said to me here’s my chance to come and play. For me, it’s one I want to take and I’m just really glad to be here.
“It’s great just being back amongst the boys and getting a sweat on in training. You can’t mimic that. It’s been a great first day. I really loved it and I’m just getting used to the cold weather.”
